Will County Treasurer's Office announces new ways to pay property taxes

Will County Treasurer Steve Weber announced that his office will use GovTech Services of Olive, Iowa, to process online property tax payments through 2021.

Under the agreement, GovTech will process credit and debit card payments using secure internet, pay-by-phone and in-person transactions, according to a news release.

“The main reason for these changes is to save people money,” Weber said in the release. “Not everyone can pay property taxes the way Illinois law demands. People need options, and we’re doing our part to help.”

Weber said these new options will have lower fees to use. Weber said in the news release that since 2010, he’s been reducing and eliminating fees paid by the public. Under this new agreement, the reduced cost is made possible by added functionality. Credit card fees fall to 2.28 percent from 2.5 percent in 2010. The $1.50 per transaction fee for e-check and ACH payments has been eliminated.

For the first time, Will County property owners will be able to pay their property taxes as a monthly installment. Recurring payments allows owners to choose how much they pay and how often. Beginning in May, property owners can schedule periodic payments in an amount they choose, even if the amount does not completely pay their tax bill. Property owners will be responsible for any outstanding tax if they do not schedule the total payment.

Property owners can also schedule their two annual payments to take place automatically with the new system. They also have the option to pay their entire bill at one time, as the system is flexible.

Mobile homeowners now will have the ability to pay online for the first time in February. They can pay using credit or debit cards, or from a checking account.

The treasurer’s office also will deploy tap-and-pay technology found in smartphones beginning in May. This means users of Apple Pay and Android Pay, as examples, can tap and pay their taxes in the same way they can at a department store or restaurant.